Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-16
MASONIC SCANDAL.
PALS OF GOULD ARD DUNN EXPELLED
WITH THIN.
Hire Men Altogether Put Dat Tom and
Jerry Rushing Through the
High Degrees.
New York SUM-

the gambler and slayer of Jimmy FL
lot, completed their work yesterday
by expelling the last of nine men.
Gould and Dunn were admitted into
Prudence Lodge, No. 632, OF this city
nearly a year ago, and they foun1
there many other men who had
no reasons to feel aggrieyed at
their admission. This element IN
tho lodge had been growing for
some time, and SO many OF the
ether sort fell away that it was an easy
matter to elect anybody who might care
to apply for membership. Bunco, steer
ers and confdence-men, it is alleged,
had gained admission to the lodge
not one or two Of them, but q formida-
BILE minority. II was the ambition Of
Gould and Dunn that brought them
and seven of their friends to grief.
They rushed through the degrees OF
Prudence Lodge, and then went step
HIGHER and were admitted to Palestine
CHAPTER, Royal Arch Masons. This was
in June last, and only after the names
Of the men had been fayorably reported
upon by committee. Even then there
was no scandal, but both Gould and
Dunn wanted to go higher still, and
about month later they applied for
admission into Ivanhoe Commandery.
Hero they were blackballed and the
scandal began. Many men threatened
to leave the order William A. Whit
ing carried the news to Lawyer L. p.
Wilder, Master of Citizens Lodge, and
he wrote statement of the matter to
Grand-Master Frank r. Lawrence.
Mr.. Wilder was requested to lnyesti-
gate, hut lie was about going to Colo
RADIO for his health, and so the work
YVES turned over to Mr.. Whiting and
Edward Dodd. When their report
was handed in the Grand Lodge sus-
pended both Prudence Lodge and
Palestine Chapter, and took theirchar-
tiers from them, thus preventing them
from holding any more meetings.
Mr.. Wilder returned to the city IN
September and began a thorough in
vestigation. Evidence was gathered
from all quarters, and when the com
mission met il was well fortified with
evidence against the accused. The
most important witnesses were James
w. Cameron and Mr.. Myers, who had
worked earnestly in getting evidence
against Gould. They succeeded so
admirably that they were made the
complainants.
Besides Dunn and Gould, Hugh De-
min, the master of Prudence Lodge, Is
expelled for letting them in, and these
others for being worthy associates OF
the first two II. w. Raymond, Will
liam O'Brien, G. Tibbotts, Jack Con-
way, H. Minchin, and II. w. Withrow.
Conway was high priest of Palestine
Chapter, and was charged with having
known the characters of both Gould
and Dunn when they were accepted as
members. The report submitted by
High Priest of the State Chapter Rich
ard Huntington was in part as follows !:
"That the said two members so adj
yanced and exalted in Palestine Chap
ter are, and have been for many years
previous. of VIGOROUSLY bad character
and evil repute in the community
that one OF the said parties is COM
monty reputed to be, and, as the COM
plainants are informed and verify be-
lieve, he is, in fact, murderer and a
gambler that he is, and for q long
time has been under police surveillance,
and is declared by the authorities to be
a person of infamous repute ; that the
other party, as mentioned in said COM
plant, has for several years last past
been under police surveillance, and but
recently was arrested for conducting a
disreputable house in this city of New
York, which was common resort OF
the most infamous characters OF both
sexes.
1.-The compliments verify believe
that the bad character and evil repute
of these parties were well known or
could easily have been ascertained and
made known to the officers and COM
panions of the aforesaid Chapter be-
fore they were advanced and exalted
therein, but the said Chapter, its Off
GERS, and members, laying aside care
and caution due III the examination OF
candidates, and i'll violation of the
ancient laws and usages of the royal
craft, have either negligently or will
fully admitted within the sacred taber-
nacle the aforesaid unworthy material
to the great scandal of the craft and
the injury Of its good name and fame. "
The investigation consumed nearly
six weeks, the commission sitting SIX
nights a week. Their first setback
was in the refusal of Police-Captain
Williams, who is himself high i'll the
order, to testify before the commission
as TO Tom Gould's character. A Ma
sonic Subpona was sent him, but he
did not respond. The testimony OF
Cameron and Myers was important
in proving what the courts have
failed to prove-that Tom Gould
was the proprietor of the Sans
Souci. They had called upon Gould
as brother Masons, and were warmly
received by HIM. He showed them
through his place, and took particular
pride in exhibiting a little private room
lie had upstairs. 1t was splendidly
fitted up, and over q bottle OF wine in
this room Gould admitted that he owned
the place, and that it had cost him
$4,000 to fit it up. Gould was put
upon the stand and was questioned by
Mr.. Wilder. Gould said his brother
in-law, Thomas L. Parker, owned the
Sans Souci.
Q. Where is Parker? A. He is in
Aiken, S. c., where he went for his
health he is consumptive.
@. What was Mr.. Parker's business
before he started that saloon? a. he
was foreman in downtown establish
ment.
Q. What did he earn there? A. His
wages were $40 week.
q. Did he save any money? A. !
don't know.
Q. Where did he get the money ia
purchase the saloon? A. L don't
know.
And then in burst of confidence
Gould drew from his pocket sheet Of
paper, saying:
He owned the place, and before he
went South he made out his will. This
is il here.
Mr.. Wilder examined the will anC
discovered that the "Sans-Souci sa
loon, as well as all the other property
Loft INV Thomas H. Parker was be